D.C. City Council approves assisted suicide measure

WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia City Council Nov. 15
approved a bill allowing doctors to prescribe lethal medications to terminally
ill patients who want to end their lives.

On a voice vote, a majority of the 13-member council approved the
"Death with Dignity Act" that permits physicians in the District of
Columbia to legally prescribe the drugs to patients who have been deemed
mentally competent and who have received a terminal diagnosis of six months or
less.

The vote does not mean legalized assisted suicide is now the law
in the district. The measure moves to Mayor Muriel Bowser for approval or veto.
If it is approved, the law would be subject to congressional review.

Michael Scott, director of the D.C. Catholic Conference, blasted
the council decision. "Once again council members who voted for the
legislation failed to address serious public policy concerns raised by the
broad and diverse coalition opposing the legislation," he said in a
statement.

Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander, chairperson of the
Health and Human Service Committee, and Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau
offered the only votes opposing the measure. There was no discussion of the
legislation.

Prior to the vote, the council approved an amendment proposed by
Alexander that requires the Department of Health to include data from all
patients who submit written or oral requests for the lethal medication in an
annual statistical report. Prior to the amendment, the legislation only
required that the report include data from a sample of information sent by
doctors.

Scott said Bowser can veto the bill in view of the concerns
raised by opponents, "some of which," he said, "were also
outlined by her Department of Health director, (Dr.) LaQuandra Nesbitt, during
her public testimony last year. It would be irresponsible to ignore her own
subject experts and the large number of residents who oppose the
legislation."

Nesbitt, who was appointed by Bowser, has openly opposed the
bill, saying it violates her Hippocratic oath.

In a statement prior to the final vote, Scott the new law is
closer to "assisted homicide" than assisted suicide because it
violates a section of the D.C. Code that classifies as a first-degree murderer
"whoever, being of sound memory and discretion, kills another purposely,
either of deliberate and premeditated malice or by means of poison."

The D.C. Catholic Conference represents the public policy
interests of the Catholic Church in the District of Columbia. The conference,
which joined a broad based coalition of other groups in opposing the measure,
issued a statement expressing disappointment at the conclusion reached by the
council.

"The D.C. Catholic Conference is sorely disappointed that
the City Council passed the so-called Death with Dignity Act of 2015 legalizing
assisted suicide in the District of Columbia," the statement said.
"This bill imperils residents particularly those who are sick, elderly,
disabled, and uninsured in our communities. It allows for coercion and abuse
including third-parties administering the lethal drugs to patients who may or
may not be incapacitated and or even requesting assisted suicide.

"Along with No DC Suicide, the conference will continue to
press Mayor Muriel Bowser to veto this extreme, reckless, and dangerous
legislation opposed by a large number of city residents," it said.

When the council approved a first reading of the measure Nov. 1,
Scott said the law "discriminates against our African-American and
Hispanic neighbors, sick seniors, the disabled, the uninsured and all who are
vulnerable in our community."

Opponents say the bill is flawed because it endangers
"high-risk" populations including the elderly, the uninsured and
underinsured, the homeless, low-income individuals and those with intellectual
disabilities.

They also point out it does not require doctors to give patients
a screening for depression before providing them with the lethal prescription;
the patient is not required to notify family members before taking the
medication; and no doctor, nurse, or legal witness is required to be present
when the lethal dose is taken.